Britain's Time to Shine

Evan Rast reports on the watchmakers that made their mark at the recent SalonQP in London

When it comes to timepieces, we’re very much used to hearing the latest from Switzerland. The SalonQP however is a unique occasion where we see the best from a growing group of British independent watchmakers, mixed in with our standard Swiss bearers. The artsy Saatchi Gallery in London was once again the chosen location for the fourth edition of the show, which ran from 8 to 10 November.

Founder and QP editor James Gurney compares the salon to a "car show for watches," catering more to passionate enthusiasts than retailers and journalists. So apart from being able to try on and discover new models, the show organisers also made sure there were one-off experiences on offer. It was the first year that the salon hosted a lifestyle section, featuring luxury audio, jewellery and watch winders. Harrods set up a watch servicing and repair area for visitors. Workshops and demonstrations, from dial enamelling from Jaquet Droz, watchmaking from Chopard, Corum and Harry Winston, as well as gem-setting and watch assembly – courtesy of Jaeger-LeCoultre’s masterclass – were offered. And industry insiders, including watch journalist Ian Skellern, and The Jewellery Editor’s Maria Doulton, were invited as guest speakers.

More than 50 brands participated in the event, a number of which chose the occasion to launch new timepieces.

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